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Mauritania is a country located in northwest Africa, sharing its borders with Algeria, Senegal, and Mali, along with the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

Mauritania is a country whose main attractions are its desert and its ocean.

This is why it’s no wonder that tourists mostly come here to visit the desert in Adrar and the Tagant areas (areas around Atar), and the ocean in Banc d’Arguin: this is an incredible sight of a natural reserve with dunes ending in the sea, with millions of birds that will take your breath away.

It is protected by UNESCO.

If you’re interested in seeing the stunning desert scenery, Mauritania is the place for you.

You can hike across rocky terrain and through narrow canyons and run into surprising oases which served as some kind of refuge to traders crossing the Sahara for centuries.

Two other stunning historical cities in the Adrar are Chinguetti, once a trading center with an incredible architecture that persisted unchanged for nearly a millennium, and Oudane, and along with a couple of other small towns, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Warnings & Dangers in Mauritania

OVERALL RISK : HIGH

Generally speaking, Mauritania isn’t safe at all for tourists. There have been reports of Westerners being kidnapped and executed while violent crime is on the increase. Exercise maximum possible vigilance.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK : HIGH

Use your wits as you would in your own country. For instance, never get in unlicensed cabs as there have been many cases of robbers using this trick to lure and attack their victims. Banditry is increasingly common in Mauritania so be careful when driving or finding yourself on the road. Always keep your windows up and your doors locked.

PICKPOCKETS RISK : HIGH

Pickpockets are extremely common, and tourists very commonly wind up being stolen from. When you’re on the streets, try not to look like you have money and leave all your valuables in your accommodation. Don't take your cell phone out in the middle of the street, and while walking around, keep your eyes and hands on your purse at all times.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK : HIGH

When it comes to natural disasters, since 2002, Mauritania has battled many wars with natural disasters from locust invasions to severe drought and flooding. The droughts and severe rainfalls keep interchanging so the country is suffering from either one thing or the other.

MUGGING RISK : HIGH

Muggings, robberies, kidnappings, and assaults are becoming increasingly common in Mauritania so be on the lookout everywhere. Be careful at night and avoid remote and poorly lit areas, and if you find yourself in a dangerous situation, hand over your belongings immediately.

TERRORISM RISK : HIGH

Terrorists are very likely to try and carry out attacks in Mauritania. Avoid traveling to the eastern and northern provinces of Mauritania - Tiris Zemmour, Adrar, Tagant, and Hodh el Chargui - as there is a continuing high threat from terrorism throughout the country.

SCAMS RISK : HIGH

As in almost any country, there is a great risk of getting scammed in Mauritania, too. Always check everything twice and negotiate everything in advance. Taxi drivers might try to trick you into paying more, giving you wrongful information about the price of the ride.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK : HIGH

Women are strongly advised against going anywhere in Mauritania alone and unaccompanied. If you do decide to go to Mauritania, be extremely careful, especially at night and always try to stick with other individuals or groups. Even going accompanied by just one more person is better than going alone.

So... How Safe Is Mauritania Really?

Though the gorgeous Mauritania, that boasts beautiful deserts and coastline beauty, its safety remains constantly in question with its persistent struggles located with poverty, terrorism, escalating crime rates and severely mined border areas.

Unfortunately, the biggest threat in Mauritania is one of a terrorist attack.

Terrorists have been known to target areas frequented by foreigners, like most of Western Africa, including clubs, restaurants, embassies, international schools, hotels, expatriate housing compounds, churches and other places of worship, and shopping centers, and Mauritania, unfortunately, isn’t an exception.

In early 2011 Mauritanian security forces prevented a car bombing in Nouakchott, while in 2010, three people were injured in an attempted suicide bombing in Nema.

As for crime, you should avoid Nouakchott and Atar, as there’s a great risk of kidnapping particularly against Westerners there.

Violent crime including robbery, rape, and assault is common and represents a great threat in Mauritania.

Armed bandits are becoming increasingly active across Mauritania.

Avoid beach areas, deserted areas and areas along the road between Mali and Mauritania as bandits have been known to operate there.

Useful Information

Visas - Most countries do need a visa in order to enter Mauritania. Make sure your passport is valid beyond the intended period of your stay. If you are not sure about your visa status, it is best to visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa.

Currency - Mauritanian ouguiya is the official currency in Mauritania. Credit cards are mostly accepted at top-end hotels, larger businesses, and similar establishments.

Weather - Mauritania has a desert climate in the center-north, that turns into semi-desert in the south, due to the summer monsoon that brings substantial rainfall between June and early October. The temperature is tempered by the sea breezes on the coastline.

Airports - Nouakchott–Oumtounsy International Airport is the busiest airport in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania. It is located around 25 km north of the city.

Travel Insurance - Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Mauritania, since it covers not only the costs medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

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3 Reviews on Mauritania

High terrorist threat

As a former resident of this country, I can attest to the danger you’d be putting yourself in by visiting it. I fled in 2014 to Europe which thankfully wasn’t too difficult as my mother is already a French citizen. I lived in Chinguetti which was fast becoming uninhabitable at the time, I had to abandon my home and business. Another beautiful country destroyed by terrorism.

Not safe

I spent years traveling places that weren’t considered the safest to document wildlife and I can say that this place is not safe at all. I would not travel here by choice. If you have to travel to see family or some other reason, go as a group of 5 or larger and stay together at all times.

Wow, very bad!

I was under the impression this place has changed but not by this much! Wow, I am glad I decided to go elsewhere a few years ago. I was looking up another location on this site and happened to spot this one and was curious. Yikes! It sounds terrible there now!